My own response always fell on the side of the superstar programmer, as that was a self-serving answer to support my livelihood. Now it is interesting to see, as an SEO (and still superstar programmer), that the controversy has cropped up in the SEM world.

Essentially, people are saying that good Search Engine marketers are naturally talented and able to manage complex campaigns. And that there is a shortage of these people.

Let me tell you why this is true. No matter what side of the programmer debate you are on, most people agree that there is a shortage of programmers. Well, I believe that the really good SEO/SEM person is also a programmer! They have to be able to analyze complex systems, modify algorithms, debug problems, and report on progress sometimes with only an intuitive grasp of where things stand.

So if there is a shortage of programmers, and with more responsibilities falling on programmers shoulders, there is just less opportunities to find underemployed superstars.

All this is probably why I am enjoying being an SEO and much as I do – because it utilizes the same talents that make me a great programmer, if I do say so myself